Enviro News Asia, Riau — The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry’s Manggala Agni forest fire brigade has intensified efforts to combat forest and land fires across several districts in Riau Province, including Siak, Rokan Hilir, and Pelalawan, as extreme fire-risk conditions continue to threaten the region.
Firefighting operations entered their third day on 29 May, with personnel from the Sumatra IV Operational Area in Pekanbaru continuing suppression efforts in Pecing Bekulo Village, Kandis District, Siak Regency. The team has been working continuously since the Eid al-Adha holiday on 27 May to prevent the spread of fire and minimize damage to forest ecosystems.
Head of the Sumatra Forest Fire Control Center, Ferdian Krisnanto, said firefighters remain focused on extinguishing active hotspots and establishing firebreaks to contain the blaze. Ground crews are also receiving support from aerial water-bombing operations conducted by the air task force.
Additional Manggala Agni teams from the Sumatra III Operational Area in Labuhanbatu have been deployed to Pasir Limau Kapas Village in Rokan Hilir Regency, where firefighters are working alongside joint emergency response teams to ensure fires are fully extinguished and do not reignite.
Meanwhile, two teams from the Sumatra VII Operational Area in Rengat have been dispatched to Sokoi Village and Mendol Island in Pelalawan Regency. The deployment follows the detection of fire hotspots in the peatland-dominated coastal areas, which are highly susceptible to severe fires during the dry season.
According to Ferdian, the teams face significant logistical challenges, including an eight-hour journey by land and water transportation to reach affected locations. Their primary objective is to localize fire lines and prevent flames from spreading into nearby community plantations.
Despite extreme heat, difficult terrain, and limited access to fire locations, firefighting operations are continuing with a strong emphasis on personnel safety and effective fire suppression.
Data from the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) indicate that Riau Province is currently experiencing an extreme Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC) level, signaling very dry conditions and a high likelihood of ignition. Several other regions across Sumatra are also classified under the extreme category.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid land-clearing activities involving fire and to immediately report any signs of forest or land fires to local authorities as part of efforts to prevent larger environmental disasters. (*)
